the scoop - leagueathletics.comfiles.leagueathletics.com/text/documents/3106/14587.pdf · ed. mtg....

The Scoop

September 28, 2007 Volume 14, Issue 3

The Newsletter of the Hurlbutt Elementary School PTO

From The PTO President

MMAARRKK YYOOUURR CCAALLEENNDDAARRSS!!

DDaatteess TToo RReemmeemmbbeerr::

• Mon. Oct. 1st School Photo Day (no hats please!)

• Tues. Oct. 9th PTO General Meeting 9:15 a.m. South Hse Cafet.

• Mon. Oct 15th Raindate/Makeup Day for School Photo Day

• Mon. Oct 15th Board of Ed. Mtg. 7:30 p.m. Weston Library (attendance encouraged!!)

• Tues. Oct. 16th PTO Philanthropy Meeting 9:15 a.m. (locale tbd)

• Run For Life Oct. 23rd -25th

• Fri. Oct. 5th Next deadline for Scoop submissions

SScchhooooll CClloosseedd//DDeellaayyeedd OOppeenniinngg::

• Mon. Oct. 8th Columbus Day (closed)

• Friday Oct. 19th Professional Development (2 hour delay)

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

http://www.pdffactory.com


Dear Friends, It’s hard to believe it’s autumn! With summer-like temperatures this week it is difficult to think about outerwear. But before we know it (probably next week) it will be time to break out those sweatshirts and other garments. Please remember to label them. The mornings may be crisp now, but by recess it has warmed considerably. The children shed their jackets and they get lost so easily. I love this time of year. Weston is even more beautiful than usual. It’s why we chose Monday, October 1 to be School Photo Day. Our campus makes for a magnificent backdrop! Remember to send in your order forms and dress your children in your favorite outfits! Thank you in advance to Kelly Batcha for coordinating the day for the PTO. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather gods

cooperate. If they don’t, we have a raindate. Photo Day is a “go” unless it is actually raining. Clouds do not count. This coming week marks a major milestone for our Kindergarteners with the beginning of long days. If they seem a little sleepier, don’t worry – they will shortly get used to their new schedule. Some of you have asked about when your Kindergartener will be able to purchase food in the cafeteria. Not yet – acclimation to the cafeteria environment is done in stages. Some of our students have never eaten in a group before and we want them all to be comfortable first. Later in the fall they will be able to purchase milk, and then after the New Year, they will be able to buy lunch. Thank you to all the families that participated in our Gift Wrap fundraiser that ended today. Our

chair, Janet Hoffman, has done an amazing job of coordinating this event. Additionally, we couldn’t have done it without the assistance of our room parents and teachers, and the support of all of our parents. When the final tally is in, we will let you know how we did. Please remember that Monday, October 8, school is closed to celebrate Columbus Day. Finally, our next PTO General Meeting is on Tuesday, October 9 – socializing at 9:15, business at 9:30. Attendance at our monthly meetings is a great way to catch up with friends while keeping abreast of all that is happening at Hurlbutt and in the Weston educational community. I hope to see you there! Warmest Regards, Dana Levin 222-4918 [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]



3

The Scoop Page 2

From Nurse Alexis Welcome back to school. Hope you all had an enjoyable and healthy summer vacation. This is the time of year to be vigilant about checking your children not only for ticks, but also for lice. Head Lice (Pediculosis) is a parasitic insect that lives on humans and cannot survive on any other animal. Pediculosis is considered a communicable disease. The head louse can survive for about 2-3 days off the human host. A nit is the egg of the head louse. They are oval, grayish-brown or yellowish-white in color and are laid within 24-48 hours after the lice mate. They hatch in about 7-10 days, and reach maturity 8 days after hatching. Transmission occurs by direct contact (infested person) or indirectly (combs, brushes, helmuts, hats). Lice cannot jump or fly but can be spread from person to person when one lies on an infested carpet or upholstered sofa, in car seats, etc. Signs to look for are: persistent itching of the scalp or back of the neck, or small, reddened areas at the base of the scalp and behind the ears. Carefully examine your child’s hair for nits that will look like gray or tan specks (not easy to detect). Dandruff will fall off the hair, nits will not. Treatment Please contact your physician if you suspect that your child has head lice. A pediculicide shampoo is usually recommended. Head lice can survive for 2-3 days away from the scalp. Nits that remain on clothing or household surfaces can cause reinfestation. To assure compliance with Connecticut General Statutes, Section 10-210 on exclusion from school for those students with communicable/infectious diseases, Weston’s School Policy specifies that: Children with head lice are to be excluded until treatment has been initiated and the hair is nit-free. The school nurse must check children

who have been excluded from school because of head lice after treatment to ensure that the lice/nits have been totally eradicated. If you identify and treat your child at home, please notify the school nurse so that appropriate steps may be taken to prevent further spread of this condition in the schools.

Prevention/Control of Head Lice 1. After shampoo treatment, soak

all family combs/brushes in anti-lice shampoo for 1 hour.

2. Wash all possibly infested clothing, sheets and towels in hot water (at least 130° F) and dry in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. Dry clean any personal clothing items that cannot be washed.

3. All non-washable items should be placed in a tightly sealed plastic bag for approximately 2 weeks. After this time, the bag should be opened outdoors and items should be shaken vigorously.

4. Discuss with your child the negative health effects of sharing hair items such as combs, barrettes, brushes, hats, helmets and cassette headphones. While in school during the winter months, put hats inside coat sleeves.

5. Check your child at least once a week at home and continue to examine all family members. Frequent checking at home is essential.

Your support and assistance is most appreciated. If you have any further questions or concerns, please call the school nurse. Alexis Curtis, RN, MS (203) 291-1466

SCOOP Items

• Scoop Online: The SCOOP will be going online in January! If we don’t already have it, please send your email address to either [email protected] or [email protected] .

• Submissions: The next deadline for SCOOP submissions is Friday Oct. 5th .

• Questions or Comments on the SCOOP? Contact Hillary Mandell @ [email protected] or 226-1081.




5

The Scoop Page 3

TEA TIME!

Hurlbutt LRC Volunteer Tea

Thursday

ALLERGY UPDATE Food allergies in children are on the rise at Hurlbutt. Here is some information and reminders to help keep the many children with allergies safe at Hurlbutt. Common allergy offenders are peanuts, nuts, eggs and fish, though the list can rise to almost 200 allergens. The reactions to these range from mild to severe—those causing anaphylactic reaction. An anaphylactic reaction can come quickly after exposure to the offending food. It affects the airways, skin, and digestive tract resulting in death within as few as 15 minutes without the proper response. Immediate medical attention is required while an injection of epinephrine can slow down a reaction until the child is transported to the hospital. (Epipens are kept at school for affected children.) There are many nut-free classrooms at Hurlbutt. If your child is in a nut-free room, not sending peanut and nut products in your child’s lunch bag is one way to eliminate risks of exposure. The other is to ensure that hands and mouths are washed following breakfast when it includes these foods and as well after lunch if necessary. This cuts down the possibility of an allergen getting passed on through play or while handling books, toys and water taps. Discuss with your child the importance of not sharing lunches or making fun of other children’s lunches, who may eat different foods to their own. Additionally, if you are packing snacks and /or bringing in food for a nut-free classroom celebration, please read labels to check for nut product listings, or statements such as traces of nuts, processed on equipment or in a facility that manufactures nuts. The labeling of nuts may also be ambiguous. Alternative names for peanuts/nuts include mandelonas, marzipan, Nu-Nuts and nut meats and hydrolyzed protein. Peanuts/nuts are often found in granola bars, cookies (and other baked goods,) cereals, chocolate bars, energy bars, Nutella, pesto. If you are one of the lucky ones who do not have to deal with a food allergy in your family, please be compassionate towards those that do as they are dealing with a life-threatening situation on a daily basis.




October 18th

9 a.m.

LRC

Please meet other LRC volunteers and learn about helping in the

LRC.

RSVP by 10/12 to Wendy Ferdinande @

[email protected] or 341-9656

The Scoop Page 4





7

The Scoop Page 5

HES Parenting Partnership By Suzanne Arnone, Sue Pelosi and Stacy Slater

The Responsive Classroom- “Time-Out”

“The ideal aim of education is the creation of the power of self-control.” This statement was made many years ago by John Dewey, philosopher and educator, who recognized the need for individuals to learn to control their impulses so they would be able to follow the rules of a group. Self-control is an essential skill for the smooth functioning of a learning community. Learning impulse control is a fundamental task of child development. As children grow, they are learning how to balance their own desires with the desires of the community- be it family, friends, classmates- and as they learn, they make mistakes. Ideally, we want the consequences of these mistakes to be conducive to learning, “Time-out” can be an effective strategy for helping children develop self-control. When used in a consistent, calm and non-punitive way, it can serve to maintain clear limits for behavior while preserving the integrity of the individual. On the other hand, when used in a punitive way, time-out breeds resentment and can escalate disruptive and defiant behavior. Many teachers in our school use the term “take a break”, as “time-out” has developed a negative connotation. The purpose of time-out ought to be to give children a chance to calm down and regain self-control, not to punish. Once a child has regained self-control, he/she is welcome to rejoin the group. You may use time-out at home as a means of helping a child calm down. At home or in the classroom, the place for time-out is neither isolated nor in the midst of activity, maybe a chair or cushion off to the side. For safety reasons, the child needs to be visible by an adult at all times. When telling a child to go to time-out, the fewer words used, the better. Lengthy explanations or negotiations are disruptive to the others in the group, and are negatively reinforcing. You may discuss the situation with the child at a later time, but not in that moment. As with all procedures in the Responsive Classroom approach, children need to be taught how to use time-out. Modeling and practicing before using time-out are very important. Children should know that several things are expected from them:

1) go directly to the time-out spot, quickly and quietly 2) do what helps you calm yourself and refocus, without disturbing others 3) when ready, return to the group quietly and rejoin activity 4) when another child is in time-out, leave him alone and stay focused on class activity

Time-out is generally brief- 30 seconds to five minutes, depending on the child’s ability to regain control. For young children, the adult often decides when the child is ready to return. Older children are more likely to know when they are ready to rejoin the group. When children rejoin the group, it is important that they know they are still liked and that mistakes are ok. A quick acknowledgement, “Good, I’m glad to see you’re ready to come back”, is often all that is needed. Helping children to develop self-control is one of our jobs as parents and teachers. We want our children to learn to make good choices- ones that show independence, responsibility and maturity. We must remember that this is a learning process- one which will likely see many mistakes along the way. Our calm, supportive, encouraging manner will go far in helping each child reach the goal.




Weston Youth Services

Governor's Summer Reading Challenge

Way to go! 254 Hurlbutt students turned in summer reading logs for a total of 7,761 books. Check out the bulletin board outside the LRC to see the display of our results. Look for the Bookepillar in the hallway that has grown tremendously showing the names

of every student that participated. Below are students and classes that received special recognition along with our raffle

winners.

Congratulations to everyone who was a summer reader!

Classes with the most summer readers

• Kindergarten: Mrs. Pavoz, Mrs. Needham, Mrs. Merrifield (tie)

• First Grade: Mrs. Kehoe • Second Grade: Mr. Santiana

Classes with the most books read during the summer

• Kindergarten: Mrs. Pavoz • First Grade: Mrs. Grosso • Second Grade: Mrs. Fontneau

Most books read during the summer

• Kindergarten: Karis Ertel, Owen Simmons, Stephen

Marshalko • First Grade: Griffin Ertel, Kendall Ertel, Camden

Archambeau • Second Grade: Liam Simmons, Niall Taylor, Michael

Satanovsky

Raffle Winners

• Kindergarten: Michael Hayes • First Grade: Carloyn Zech • Second Grade: Nathan Katz • Overall: Gray Troxell

Sibling Workshop

Weston Youth Services Parenting Series will be holding our first workshop for Hurlbutt Parents.

SIBLING WORKSHOP

Thursday, October 25th

9:30-11:00 am Weston Public Library

There is no fee for this program.

• Are your children continually fighting?

• Do they look to you to settle their disputes?

• Do you often hear the words, “That’s not fair”?

• Is one sibling consistently putting the other(s) down?

• Do you worry about their sibling relationship?

If this sounds like your house…come join us!

Questions or comments? Contact Sharyn Samuels, Weston Youth Services, at ssamuels@weston-

ct.com or 222-2586

LRC Update




9 The Scoop Page 6




Box Tops Help Our School!

Parenting Workshops

The Mental Health Team will be holding a

series of parenting workshops following PTO meetings on the following dates. Please feel

free to come to any that interest you. No RSVP is needed. The workshops will be held

from 11:15-12:00 in the back conference room of the main office. We hope to see you

there.

• October 9th-Managing it All (school, extracurricular activities, family life)

• November 13th-Teaching Children Resiliency/Coping Strategies

• December 4th-Holiday Pressure • January 8th-Sibling Rivalry • February 5th-Positive Discipline • March 3rd Setting Limits • April 8th-Peer Relationships • May 13th-Transitions

(Topics subject to change)

The Scoop Page 7

The Hurlbutt PTO collects the General Mills “Box Tops” in the Main Office (on the windowsill)

throughout the year. Participating brands include Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Ziploc, Old El Paso, Nature Valley, Pop Secret, and many many more. Each Box Top that you clip from the top of a product

brings the school 10 cents. The money really adds up. Hurlbutt has received more than $1,000 in

most years with the money going towards purchasing indoor recess games & toys and

playground balls.

There is an additional way in which parents can support the school. If you visit

http://www.boxtops4education.com/shop to shop at various stores (Target, The Gap, Oriental

Trading, Staples, and many more), between 2% and 6% of your total purchase goes to Hurlbutt. Check it out to see how your regular shopping

experience can benefit our school!

Thank you for your support! If you have questions or comments, please contact Suzy Vore at

[email protected] or 227-4109.


http://www.boxtops4education.com/shop




11

Lost & Found

A few cool mornings caused quite a few lost sweaters etc. to turn up, especially on the buses. If something is left on the bus it initially goes to a small lost and found barrel inside the office at the bus garage. It can take a few days to make its way to the school lost and found. Also, those things get split up between Hurlbutt and WIS. So, if you don’t find something at the bus garage or the Hurlbutt lost and found, try WIS. BEST BET: LABEL IT! If it has your name in it and you are in the directory I will call and let you know where it is. Hurlbutt lost and found is located outside the South House Cafeteria. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me (Perrie Dunne Blumenstock) at 227-8099.

Board of Education Caroline Schreder BOE Representative

The BOE accepted, with appreciation, a panel from the mural “Sky Wheels.” The panel was painted by Tracy Sugarman in 1992 and has been located in the pediatrics department at Norwalk hospital. The panel depicts a scene of Weston and will be hang in the Hurlbutt Elementary School LRC. Mr. Jerry Belair, Assistant Superintendent, reviewed CAPT testing. This is a test that 10th graders take. Results were impressive and the full report is available at the BOE office. Similarly, Ms. Nancy St. Clair, Guidance Curriculum Instructional Leader and Mrs. Cipriani, Weston High School Principal, reviewed the Class of 2007 Statistical Report and Analysis of College Applications. This report is also available at the BOE office. The BOE also reviewed the current enrollment at all Weston schools. At Hurlbutt, Kindergarten now has 147 enrolled with an average class size of 18.38; Grade 1 has 224 enrolled with an average class size of 18.33, and Grade 2 has 202 enrolled with an average class size of 19.30. Original projections were for a total enrollment of 543. The next BOE meeting will be held on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 7:30 at the Weston Town Library. All are welcome to attend. The monthly meeting is your way to be heard. Please attend.

Say “Cheese” School Photo Day – Monday, October 1st By now you should have received your School Photo Order Form. These order forms, INCLUDING PAYMENT, must be returned to your child’s teacher on or before photo day or no order will be taken. Extra order forms will also be available at the Main Office. In case of inclement weather, the raindate is scheduled for Monday, October 15th. At that time photos will be taken rain or shine. Information on “Re-take Day” to follow. *No hats please.

Kelly Batcha, PTO School Photo Rep, [email protected]





The Scoop Page 8

Philanthropy

Our first Philanthropy Committee meeting was held on September 18th and was very well attended – many thanks to all of you who joined us. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 16th at 9:30 am and depending on the number of folks attending it will be held at South House Cafeteria or at 3 Logan Lane. Please note that all communication regarding meetings will be confirmed via e-mail, so please e-mail me if you wish to be added to the mailing list. Any member of the PTO is invited to participate in the Philanthropy Committee, even if you were not able to attend the first meeting. Please come out and join us as we work to make the Hurlbutt educational environment a positive experience for all our children. Please RSVP to Maryn Faski at [email protected] if you plan on attending.





13

Learn The Issues. Meet The Candidates. Make An Informed Decision.

Gayle Weinstein, Steve Ezzes, Woody Bliss, Glenn Major and James Maggio, all of whom are candidates for the Selectmen’s position, will speak briefly and answer questions at the next Hurlbutt PTO meeting Tuesday, October 9th. The meeting will start promptly at 9:15am, and the Candidates’ Forum will begin at 9:45am sharp. Of course, coffee and refreshments will be served.




The Scoop Page 9

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Thanks to all of the families that have joined the PTO. We have over 90% participation! Your dues money will be used to provide all

families with the bi-monthly issues of the Scoop, the beautiful bulletin boards in the halls, publicity in our local newspapers, speakers at our monthly PTO meetings, memory books for all teachers, kindergarten

registration, our Hurlbutt Family Directories and has already been used to provide Back to School night & the annual faculty

luncheon.

I would also like to thank all of the grade coordinators and room parents that have made calls, sent e-mails & followed up with all

the families to get everyone involved. We could not have exceeded 90% without you!!!

Congratulations to the following classes for 100% participation:

Ms. Davignon - 2nd grade Mrs. Larrabee - 2nd grade

Mr. McNeill - 2nd grade Mrs. Bajda - 1st grade

Ms. Coleman - 1st grade Mrs. Nickerson - Kindergarten

Mrs. Pavoz – Kindergarten Ms. Mora – ELC

If you are still interested in joining, please contact me.

Ali Melito

[email protected] 222-7969





15

The Scoop Page 10

Book Fair, 2007 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS--November 6-10)

It’s a Reading Rodeo!

The horses have left the stable…The preparations have begun for another GREAT Book Fair! We will be welcoming back Linda’s StoryTime as our vendor. Keep an eye on the SCOOP for information about fair times and family events! Based on feedback from last year, we will be scheduling the kids’ visits to the Fair to ensure everyone attends in the first two days. Not only will everyone get to join the fun earlier, but our need for volunteers during the final days will also be reduced! Given the tighter timeframes, the class visits will become “browse-only.” Between Election Day, general sales hours and fun family events, there will be plenty of buying opportunities for kids and their parents!! Please contact Maryn Faski at [email protected] to sign up for a shift or two—remember, this event does NOT happen without YOU! There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved before the Fair. If you LOVE the Book Fair as much as we do and want to lend a creative hand, we’d love to hear from you! Cathy Greene ([email protected]), Maryn Faski ([email protected]) and Jen Skor ([email protected]).








The Scoop Page 11

LAST CALL

Weston Public Schools Wall Calendars

Almost SOLD OUT, the Weston Public Schools Calendar is a great tool to help you stay organized.

The calendar features:

• Schedules for ALL FOUR schools (vacations, delays, early dismissals, holidays, concerts, plays, athletic events, prom, etc.)

• PTO meetings & fundraisers for ALL FOUR schools, Board of Ed. Meetings, Weston Youth Services, etc.

• Large 10 x 13” pages with large blocks to write in your personal info • A spiral-bound format, easy to take with you, or hang on the wall • Full-color student art work throughout

Don’t miss out! The Weston Public Schools Wall Calendar was printed in limited quantities. Order today, or buy your calendar at Weston Town Hall, Peter’s Market or Hurlbutt’s Main Office, while supplies last. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WESTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WALL CALENDAR ORDER FORM Please return to your child’s home room teacher or your school’s main office in a sealed envelope marked: Calendar Sales Parent Name: ___________________________________________________ Child’s Name: __________________________________________________ Child’s Grade: ________________ Home Room Teacher: ___________________ Telephone #: _______________ Quantity of Calendars: __________ Total Cost: __________________ (Price $10.00 per calendar) ____Cash _____Check (Please make checks payable to Hurlbutt PTO)




17

Questions? Call Jennifer Skor at 227-8021 or email [email protected] **All net proceeds to benefit Hurlutt PTO





The Scoop Page 12

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

Cider Day at the Weston Farmers' Market & Historical Society

Saturday, Oct. 6, 10 AM - 12 Noon Kids and parents will have fun watching how settlers and farmers in Weston used to make cider from fresh apples using an apple press. Enjoy fresh apple cider and tasty snacks, too. Join us at the barn at the Weston Historical Society, Rte. 57 and High Acre Road from 10 AM - 12 noon. While you're at the Farmers' Market, shop for fresh apples and lots of other tasty, locally grown food. Voted "Best Farmers' Market in Fairfield County" by Fairfield County Times magazine, the market runs every Saturday, 8 AM - 12 Noon now through October 20. **New this weekend, there will be 2 new vendors selling handmade jewelry and handmade fabulous must have hair accessories for little girls from a designer in Norwalk. There is one month left to enjoy fresh produce in your neighborhood and support CT farmers!

Come enjoy honey crisp apples, galas, and macintosh – teach your kids about nutrition and where food really comes from! Also in season right now: corn, soy beans, heirloom tomatoes, plums, peaches, nectarines, and much more! For more information, contact Yvonne D'Aquino at [email protected].

A Great Way To Make A Difference! The Children’s Hope Chest is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and families in need or crisis. It is comprised of concerned individuals who wish to promote volunteerism and goodwill in an effort to help lift despair. By creating programs and encouraging the participation of children, they offer hope to those in need by linking established organizations with families to create social change. Some of the great ways that The Children’s Hope Chest is helping these children and families is through initiatives such as “The Duffels for Hope” which provide each child with a very much needed duffel since they are in institutionalized foster care. Other initiatives include “Coats for Hope” where children receive a coat so they are able to play outside during cold weather and “Hope for the Holidays” where you can grant a child’s wish by purchasing a gift for the holidays.

If you would like additional information on how to volunteer, please contact Roberta ReCouper at rrecoup@optonline or visit their website at

www.childrenshopechest.com.



http://www.childrenshopechest.com



the scoop - leagueathletics.comfiles.leagueathletics.com/text/documents/3106/14587.pdf · ed. mtg....

Documents